Embroidered Felted Purse

Materials:

Merino sheep wool fiber, several colors
eco-friendly foam
6-prong needle felting tool
1-prong felting needle
scissors
embroidery floss
needle
thread
buttons

Steps:

1. Place tufts of wool fiber (about a handful) horizontally on an 8" x 12" piece of foam (figure A).

2. Place tufts (another handful) of wool fiber on the first layer vertically. Continue to layer.

3. Continue layering the wool fibers alternating the horizontal and vertical placement until there are six layers in place (figure B). Repeatedly punch through the fiber with a 6-prong needle-felting tool (figure C).

4. Once the fiber starts to attach to itself, flip it over and continue punching.

5. Continue to use the needle-felting tool until the felt becomes uniform and dense. This process may take 20 to 30 minutes of felting. Remove felt from the foam.

6. Cut the felt to the desired purse size, approximately 10" x 6-1/2" (figure D).

7. Add a border around the outside by felting short pieces of fiber to the purse (figure E).

8. Add decorative touches to the bag by coiling small pieces of fiber and placing them on top of the felt. Needle felt them using a 1-prong felting tool until they form polka dots (figure F).

9. Embroider square and rectangular designs on the felt using embroidery floss and a needle (figure G).

10. Turn the purse over to attach a silk lining. Measure the fabric, cut it out and hand sew it with wrong sides together to the inside of the purse (figure H).

11. Fold the purse in thirds and hand sew the side seams together using a needle and thread in matching color.

12. Sew on a button to the mid section of the bag using needle and thread.

13. Line up the flap of the purse over the button and cut a buttonhole (figure I). Button the button through the hole for the clasp.

Website: www.stickywicketcrafts.com